Preparation of disulfonic acids



Patented Jan. 26, 1954 2, 67,501 smree I Q -UPFQM cme Wilford Don ld; J n nd SamuelB, McEa la e,

Summit, N. .1 assignors to Ce] ime d m s e id-.1.

e Genera: a'ieme eti No Drawing. Original application August- 31, 1950, Serial No. 182,616. Divided and'this ap nli'dation May 8,. 1951, Serial No. 225,286

claim wean Th s nvention. elat to. a nerd p ees o he. produc ion 9i disulfiqlnie aside by 2 9831?- tion of a dithiol.

h s ap l ca ion i a di ision o ou eel-"Pen n ailpli t on' 118215 162, fi d e esfi 9 9- An. im o ta t e t 0i nventi n i h ro ision o an im ed exeges s $9 the. oxi e-V tion o al ha c m to he. rres on isi onie add r. wish -tonic cids h i a ulf nyl chlor d s empl ed e pr du t on of p su ien mi ee me beeb e ed.-

t er ebieeis this W wil a p r from t e. fol ewiee detailed descr tion nd lai s.

El ?.14 ap l eat on NQ; 133 51 We 9- esihi 'ihe 2 599 e f 1 U naniide ha me film-forming elt ee e ambi f b i molded by suitable qne fations' by the reaction of a diamine "with a bis-'sulfonfi l chloride wherein the reaction medium mp ed qmprises a m ture. of aid nol mer ormine re ants the diamine semn e ed in a ueo s solut on, and the his-su on ehloride n lut on n a Wate imm se h o sanie olver-1i- Mq t adva ta: geously, the desired polymerisation reaction is attested by dissolving an acid salt of the diamine in water, adding afsolution of the bis-sulfonyl chloride in anxinert, waterteimmiseible organic solvent to the aqueous amine-solutionwith strong agitation, and then forming an emulsion of said solutions by continuing the stirring while adding a suitable emulsifying agent. With continued stirring, the amine acid salt is then neutralized hy slowly adding an alkaline neutralizing agent to the emulsion. The release of the free amine in this mannen enables thelatter to react immediately with the bisssulfonyl chloride and. to form the desired polyfiulfonamide. The addition of the alkaline neutralizing agent is con-- tinued until an amout at least sufficient to neutralize all of the amine acid salt has been added and all of the amine has been made available for reaction. Stirring at high speed is continued after all of the alk li e neutra zin a e t a been addedto ensure eemnl tien of the reaet en and thesali polymer then f lt red from the liqu eese a d The aqueous solution on di a1 i ne glfnplOYBQ preferabl c ntain item 9% s. 1-9; 1 19 e. it s i dilati n whi e ilieiie t: imin ,ci le or ani solvent solu on 9 he suite yl c loride should contain, preferably, fr

. t me a e l a di i ine' sin "D n's the emulsi n somersetnt i whe e y t i isui nimi s e. c h. f .i d'rochloricacid is formed "a hy jgro duta d a ike "e i fis fi iiel 'e ad 1 y el he reed m n eon th d a i ne a i salt lts as an ac d 'bmame' gem-Pi enemy; the alkaline neutralizifig'agentf added inexcesls so, t a i iot' lya t fie l e efi ih polymerization but it'wi'llals' heme "m m unt s nti nt t neuti ali' th' b'y prodiicthyd'rochlo'ricac during e, el m izationabo wz ma be mnb s am l f f al a e m y employ ar sq iu o p s a so ium" hiz'dm mld" tr e P phate E a ifii i mev ante mployed'asthe acid binding'agentI 'Em he e ts" of d iel rii es ma b en b ei' i m si'i iii ih' i eli amine'l ciid salt and t e o genie, sol bis-sulfonyl chloride.

be mentioned mfg ,Ch s d m la e l efie ethylene oxide condensate a coh ls d ie a t e'd ci l es e ne ai im K polyethylene glycol, 'etli "ne 'oxid w h e e' e lon aryl polyethr alcijhpI aee'nsor process. For the production of polymers of good color, it is important that the emulsifying agent be as free as possible of colored bodies as the polymer tends to scavenge colored bodies from the emulsifying agent and the reaction mixture.

Optimum results are obtained when the emulsifying agent is employed in an amount of from 011 to 1.0% based on the weight of water.

Examples of amines which may be employed in forming polysulfonamides in accordance with the novel emulsion polymerization process of our invention are diamines such as ethylene diamine, trimethylene diamine, tetramethylene diamine, pentamethylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, ortho-, metaor para-phenylene diamine, cyclohexylene diamine, nuclearly substituted-phenylenediamines and nuclearly substituted cyclohexylenediamines. N alkyl substituted diamines which contain a free amino hydrogen are also suitable.

Other diamines which may also be employed are, for example, a,w-alkane-bis-(w-amino alkyl) ethers, such as 1,4-tetramethylene-bis-( -amino propyl) ether, bis(w-amino-alkyl) ethers such as 3,3-diaminodi-propyl-ether, 4,4'-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, bis-(w-amino-alkyl) sulfides such as bis-(2-amino-ethy1)-sulfide, 1.2-, 1,3- or 1,4-a,a-diamino xylene or other w,w' diamino dialkyl benzene, diamino-naphthalene, diamino-biphenyl, w,w'-diamino dialkyl biphenyls, w-amino-alkyl-anilines, w-amino-alkyl cyclohexylamines, bis-(w-amino-alkoxy) benzene, bis- (w-amino-alkoxy)cyclohexane, 4,4'-diamino-dicyclohexyl sulfones, w,w' sulfonyl bis alkyl amines, diamino diphenyl sulfones, diamino benzophenones and N,N-bis-(w-amino-a1kyl) -a, w-alkane disulfonamides. Amines containing both primary and secondary amino groups such as diethylene triamine or triethylene tetramine,

for example, yield branch chain polysulfonamides. Such polymers, if they contain moderately branched chains, are of relatively low melting point. If the chains are highly branched the polymers approach and may even reach substantial infusibility.

The bis-sulfonyl chlorides which we employ in the production of said polysulfonamides may be obtained conveniently by oxidizing a suitable dithiol with hydrogen peroxide to form a disulfonic acid, and then reacting the sodium salt of the disulfonic acid with phosphorus pentachloride. Hydrogen chloride and phosphorus oxychloride are formed as' by-products. The hydrogen chloride is first removed by heating the reaction mixture over steam. The phosphorus oxychloride present is then removed by distilling the reaction mixture under reduced pressure. The bis-sulfonyl chloride is separated from the remainder of the reaction mixture by extracting the latter with a suitable solvent, such as chloroform. The volume of the chloroform extract obtained is reduced by evaporation and, after the addition of a neutral petroleum fraction, e. g. octane, the bis-sulfonyl chloride is crystallized from the solvent mixture.

"The oxidation of the dithiol tothe corresponding disulfonic acid is effected, as indicated above, employing hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizing agent. Preferably, the hydrogen peroxide is employed in glacial acetic acid solution and the dithiol added to the glacial acetic acid solution of hydrogen peroxide at a rate which enables the temperature of the reaction mixture to be held at from 80 to 115 C. The hydrogen peroxide is added to glacial acetic acid as a 30 to by weight aqueous solution, the amount added being in stoichiometric excess of the amount required to effect the oxidation of the particular dithiol to the desired disulfonic acid. The hydrogen peroxide is employed in an excess of from about 5 to The excess hydrogen peroxide remaining when the oxidation is completed is-destroyed. The water and acetic acid are removed by distillation under vacuum and whatever hydrogen peroxide still remains is destroyed with the aid of aqueous formaldehyde. Further distillation under vacuum removes any remaining volatiles. The disulfonic acid present is neutralized by the addition thereto of an alkaline neutralizing agent, such as sodium carbonate, and the solution then evaporated to' dryness to recover the disulfonic acid, High yields of the disulfonic acid are obtained by our improved oxidation process. The disulfonic acid may then be readily converted to the bis-sulfonyl chloride by reaction with phosphorus pentachloride.

Examples of bis-sulfonyl chlorides which we may employ are tetramethylene bis-sulfonyl chloride, pentamethylene bis-sulfonyl chloride, ethane-1,2 bis-sulfonyl chloride, methane1,1- bis-sulfonyl chloride, ethane-Ll-bis-sulfonyl chloride, propane-1,3-bis-sulfonyl chloride, propane-1,1-bis-sulfonyl chloride, decane-1,10-bissulfonyl chloride, cyclohexane-1,4-(l,3 or -L2- or 1.1) bis-sulfonyl chloride, pentane-1,5-(1,4; 1,3 or 1,2) bis-sulfonyl chloride, benzene-1,4 (1,2 or 1,3) bis-sulfonyl chloride, diphenyl-4,4'-bissulfonyl chloride, toluene-1',1-bis-sulfonyl chloride, toluene-4,l'-bis-sulfonyl chloride, 3-oxapentane-1,5-bis-sulfonyl chloride (C1O2S-CH2-CHz-OCHa-CH-SOzCl) 3 thiapentane 1,5 bis-sulfonyl chloride, 3,3- dioxo-3-thiapentane-1,5 bis sulfonyl chloride (CIOzS-(CHz) 2-SO2- (CH2) 2-SO2C1) In order further to illustrate our invention but without being limited thereto, the following examples are given:

Example I 164 parts by weight of tetramethylene diamine are dissolved in 10,000 parts by weight of water and the amine is then converted to the acid salt by being neutralized with concentrated hydrochloric acid to the Congo red end point. 500 parts by weight of pentamethylene bis-sulfonyl chloride are dissolved in about 17,500 parts by Weight of toluene to form a separate solution. The two solutions are then combined with strong agitation and 13 parts by weight of the sodium salt of N-lauroyl, N-butyl-p-amino-ethane sulfonic acid in 200 parts water are then added so that an emulsion of the solution is formed. The temperature of the emulsion is maintained at about 40 C. To the emulsion is now gradually added about 2400 parts by weight of a 3.2 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. Stirring is continued during the addition and the rate at which the solution is added is such that the addition is completedafter about hour. Stirring is continued further for an additional hour and the precipitated polysulfonamid'e is then filtered from solution. The product, comprising poly-N,N'-tetramethylene-1,5-pentambis-sulfonamide, is washed alternately with water and acetone employing strong agitation. The polysulfonamide obtained has a melting into short fibers.

aoevgsov EmampleH 164' parts by weight oftetramethylene, diamine are dissolved'in 1'7000'parts byweight of waterand neutralized thecongorred end point with concentrated hydrochloric acidand cooled to C. '00 parts by weight: of pentamethylene bis-sulfonyl chloride are dissolved in about 9500 parts by weight of'tolueheand the two solutions com,- bined with strong agitation while cooling tohold the-temperatureat about'O C: To the mixture is added 35 parts by weight of thesodiumsalt of Nelauroyl-N -butyl-c-amino-ethane sulfonic acid in 500 parts by weight of water and, with continued stirring, a smooth emulsion is obtained.

About 2400 parts by weight of 3.2 N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution are gradually added with stirring while maintaining the temperature at 1 to 2 C. The pH of the solution rises rapidly from an original value of 4 to a value of over 10. Stirring is continued for about /2 hour after the sodium hydroxide has been added and the polysulfonamide polymer formed is filtered off. The polymer comprises poly-N,N-tetramethy1- ene-1,5-pentane-bis-sulfonamide. The polymer is washed with water, then with acetone and again with water and finally dried. The polymer melts at 148-163 C. and the melt may be drawn into short fibers.

Example III 328 parts by weight of tetramethylene diamine are dissolved in 5000 parts by weight of water and 500 parts by weight of pentamethylene bissulfonyl chloride are dissolved in 30,000 parts by Weight of chloroform. The solutions obtained are then mixed with strong agitation for /2 hour at a temperature of about 20 C. by external cooling. A polymer precipitates from the liquid and is then filtered off. When melted and heated gently the polymer increases in melt viscosity and long fibers may be drawn from the melt, the fibers exhibiting an appreciable cold draw. The polymer is soluble in concentrated sulfuric acid from which it can be recovered by dilution. The polymer is also soluble in 20% aqueous sodium hydroxide and may be recovered upon acidification of the sodium hydroxide solution.

Example IV The oxidation of the dithiol to the corresponding disulfonic acid, the intermediate for the preparation of the bisulfonyl chloride, is effected in the following manner:

205 parts by weight of aqueous 50% hydrogen peroxide and 205 parts by weight of glacial acetic acid are placed in a reaction vessel and then 34.5 parts by weight of pentamethylene dithiol are slowly added thereto with stirring, while maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of 115 C. The hydrogen peroxide is 100% in excess of that theoretically required to oxidize the dithiol to the disulfonic acid. When the addition is completed, stirring is continued for /2 hours while maintaining the temperature at 95 C. by heating over steam. 0.5 part by weight of manganese dioxide are then added to decompose the excess hydrogen peroxide, the reaction being aided by the addition of 0.2 part by weight of platinized charcoal, which acts as a catalyst for the peroxide decomposition. The same temperature is maintained for one hour with stirring to complete the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide as far as possible. After removal of the water and remaining acetic acid by distillation under vacuum, the decomposition is finally com- Example V About: 300 parts'by weight of glacial acetic-acid are placed-Lin aleaction vessel; and" 1510 parts by weight of aqueous hydrogen peroxide, are added; thereto. 68.2 parts weight of. pentamethylene dithiol are slowly added to theglacial acetic acid solution of hydrogen peroxide over the course of 1.5 hours while stirring and cooling to maintain the reaction temperature below about 115 C. Upon completing the addition of the pentamethylene dithiol the reaction mixture is heated for one hour over steam. The excess hydrogen peroxide present is destroyed by heating and stirring the reaction mixture with 0.5 part by weight of platinized charcoal. The destruction of the hydrogen perioxide is completed by adding 0.5 part by weight of managnese dioxide and further heating and stirring for one hour. The water and acetic acid are distilled ofi at 0.5 mm. pressure leaving the desired pentamethylene disulfonic acid which is obtained in a yield of of theory.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Process for the production of disulphonic acids, which comprises adding a hydrocarbon dithiol in which the hydrocarbon contains no more than twelve carbon atoms to a solution in glacial acetic acid of a 30 to 90% aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide containing a stoichiometric excess of hydrogen peroxide while maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of from 80 to C., and recovering the disulphonic acid from the reaction mixture.

2. Process for the production of aliphatic disulphonic acids, which comprises adding an alkylene dithiol containing no more than twelve carbon atoms to a solution in glacial acetic acid of a 30 to 90% aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide containing a stoichiometric excess of hydrogen peroxide while maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of from 80 to 115 C., and recovering the disulphonic acid from the reaction mixture.

3. Process for the production of aliphatic disulphonic acids, which comprises adding an alkylene dithiol containing no more than twelve carbon atoms to a solution in glacial acetic acid of a 30 to 90% aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide containing a stoichiometric excess of hydrogen peroxide while maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of from 80 to 115 C. and, after the oxidation is completed, decomposing the unreacted hydrogen peroxide with manganese dioxide.

4. Process for the production of aliphatic disulphonic acids, which comprises adding an alkylene dithiol containing no more than twelve carbon atoms to a solution in glacial acetic acid of a 30 to 90% aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide containing a stoichiometric excess of hydrogen peroxide while maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of from 80 to 115 C., decomposing the unreacted hydrogen peroxide after reaction is complete with manganese dioxide, removing the acetic aeid, and neutralizing the solution of aliphatic disulphonic acid with an alkaline neutralizing agent.

WILFORD DONALD JONES.

SAMUEL B. McFARLANE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 8 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 583,853 Germany Sept. 14, 1933 OTHER REFERENCES Hinsberg, Ber. Deut. Chem., vol. 41, p. 2838 (1908).

Fries et al., Ber. Deut. Chem., vol. 42, p. 1174 (1909).

Gazdar et al., J. Chem. Soc. (London), vol. 93, p. 1833 (1908).

Houben, Die Methoden der. Org. Chem, (3rd ed.) vol. II, pp. 198, 199, 222 (1925). 

1. PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTIONN OF DISULPHONIC ACIDS, WHICH COMPRISES ADDING A HYDROCARBON DITHIOL IN WHICH THE HYDROCARBON CONTAINS NO MORE THAN TWELVE CARBON ATOMS TO A SOLUTION IN GLACIAL ACETIC ACID OF A 30 TO 90% AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE CONTAINING A STOICHIOMETRIC EXCESS OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE WHILE MAINTAINING THE REACTION MIXTURE AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM 80 TO 115* C., AND RECOVERING THE DISULPHONIC ACID FROM THE REACTION MIXTURE. 